The handheld PC market is flooded with options right now and it seems like more tech companies are trying to break into that space every year, ever since the Steam Deck made a splash in the industry. ASUS, using its expertise from having already developed its own handheld PC, has teamed up with Microsoft for the new ROG Xbox Ally X, an effort to cater to curious console gamers and handheld enthusiasts alike by underlining its “This is an Xbox” marketing push. The ROG Xbox Ally x is and isn’t an Xbox simultaneously, but it’s a good contender for one of the better, more reliable handheld devices you’ll be able to get your hands on – if you don’t mind the asking price.



We received a review unit of the ROG Xbox Ally X and not its cheaper counterpart, so the following review is based on the higher-end model. First and foremost, here’s a rundown of the ROG Xbox Ally X’s specs:

- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Comfort & Input: Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control. ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Centre button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full analogue sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU
- Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
- Memory: 24GB LPDDR5X-8000
- Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade
- Display: 7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9, 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection
- I/O Ports: 1x USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1, Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt 4 compatible / 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1, Power Delivery 3.0 / 1x UHS-II microSD card reader / 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- Network and Communication: Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4
- Dimensions: 290.8*121.5*50.7mm / 715g
- Battery: 80Wh
- Included: ROG Xbox Ally X 65W charger stand



I’d like to start by clarifying that this isn’t a portable Xbox console. Microsoft and ASUS were upfront in stating that it’s a Windows PC handheld that, at face value, might not seem too different to its market competitors. However, it does offer a number of surprises that, more successfully than its competitors, bridges the gap between a handheld PC and a traditional console experience. Let’s dig into that.

Big Boy



Right out of the box, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a chunky boy but appearances can be deceiving. Despite its bulkier size and width compared to other handheld PCs, it weighs 715g – certainly not lightweight, but it’s also deceptively lighter than it appears. Once in your hands, the contoured grips (meant to replicate the feeling of holding an Xbox controller) immediately stand out. It rests very comfortably in your hands like you would expect from an Xbox controller, also kind of reminding me of the PlayStation Portal’s well-designed grips.



The ROG Xbox Ally X comes in a stealth black colour scheme while the standard ROG Xbox Ally features a white colour scheme. Two assignable back buttons grace your fingertips while holding the device, and they’re perfectly positioned for quick, responsive taps while playing first-person shooters or RPGs. The full-sized analogue sticks with RGB lighting dancing around its curves is also a nice touch.



On its face, the ROG Xbox Ally X features a new button that brings the whole package together. The interface isn’t too dissimilar to the standard ROG Ally, but you’ll notice an Xbox button on the left which is used for access to the game bar overlay. Upon booting up the device, you can simply press this button to quickly jump into your game library without the start-up hassle of navigating the Windows menus. It’s not exactly novel – there are mappable buttons on other handhelds that function similarly – but the fact that Xbox thought about accessibility this way, especially for those new to the handheld PC space, is fantastic.

It’s just an incredibly well-designed, intuitive handheld that actually benefits from its chunky size.

My biggest takeaway from the ROG Xbox Ally X’s form factor is that it’s just an incredibly well-designed, intuitive handheld that actually benefits from its chunky size, providing a more comfortable grip that you can easily play games on for very long hours without succumbing to carpal tunnel.

Good Lookin’



Moving onto the display, the ROG Xbox Ally X boasts a 7” FHD 1080p display which might disappoint some expecting an OLED screen, especially at its asking price. Nonetheless, ASUS and Xbox milk that FHD for all its worth, delivering a striking, crisp display that really looks gorgeous without complaints. It slightly lacks the visual wizardry and punch of the Nintendo Switch 2’s LCD display or the Steam Deck OLED (which, in my opinion, remains the best display I’ve ever seen on a handheld system), but it gets the job done.

All Eyes on UI/UX



The UI for the ROG Xbox Ally X is phenomenal, to say the least, and might be in a class of its own. Navigating menus, browsing the libraries and accessing games is breezily responsive and fast, giving you quick access to a multi-tab interface for getting into different tabs, browsers, and tasks at the touch of a single button. It’s clear that ASUS and Xbox’s teams spent a lot of time fine-tuning the UI, well above even the ROG Ally, to be as accessible and friendly as possible.

My biggest gripe with handheld PCs has been addressed here. For as much as most of them look and play like consoles, they’re first and foremost PC experiences. That’s not an issue with the ROG Xbox Ally X. This is the best bridge between a traditional console and handheld PC I’ve seen yet – both fronts operating optimally to cater to both console players and PC players at once. It might be the most convincing case of “this is an Xbox” yet, but it’s also worth keeping in mind that the Windows PC software baked into it remains the foundation of the system.

This is the best bridge between a traditional console and handheld PC experience I’ve seen yet.

On that note, the handheld comes with Windows 11 Home which is par for the course at this point. You can navigate and utilise the handheld like you would a traditional PC, store files, access apps, and browse the internet at your convenience. It’s a best of both worlds offering that works about as well as you’d expect.

I Have The Power!



Beneath the hood, the ROG Xbox Ally X is powered by the cutting-edge AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, cramming 24GB LPDDR5X 8000MT/s, 1TB of storage and a godly 80Wh battery. The base model ROG Xbox Ally does not feature these specs, so with the higher-end model, you’re really getting bang for your buck and the differences are worth taking into account when making an informed purchase.

Focusing on the ROG Xbox Ally X, all this horsepower pays off once you get into gaming (more on that in a bit). Thanks to that AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, you’re getting nearly top-of-the-range performance – at least for a handheld PC - at a relatively lower cost than you’d spend on a pricier equivalent PC rig. I must mark this with an asterisk, however, as buyers who already own a console and/or a capable PC won’t be getting a drastically different gaming experience here outside of the portability and on-the-go factor, which I guess is the whole point, but I digress.

Wicked Games



Now for why you’re all here: gaming. During my time with the ROG Xbox Ally X, I mainly wanted to focus less on the technical side of things (which we’ll still explore) but more on the question of: as a casual console or PC gamer, how is the ROG Xbox Ally X going to entice you?

It’s a question that lingered on my mind throughout the review process as I figured out the value of this handheld PC from the perspective of the casual market, and not its laser-focused enthusiast audience. After all, with the Xbox branding attached, there are certain expectations that can’t be avoided if you’re trying to appeal to a wider demographic. This is where I think the ROG Xbox Ally X is really going to put some eyes on it.

I tested around a dozen games on the ROG Xbox Ally X, each with different results. On the less-demanding end, critically acclaimed new games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2 ran superbly, both comfortably hitting a smooth 60FPS with very minor, barely noticeable dips. In both cases, no adjustments to the graphical settings were really needed to get them performing in their best shapes. Baldur’s Gate 3 also yielded similar results, though some tinkering was required to eventually stabilise the performance.



Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 required rigorous adjustments to even hit a relatively stable 30FPS on the ROG Xbox Ally X. The same can be said for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, leading to some significant stuttering and frame rate issues. On a good day, the default settings will probably get you a clumsy 20-25FPS so prepare to spend a bit of time tuning things, depending on the game. I’m sure you can expect plenty of guides on how to get the most optimal performance results for many games on the system soon.

However, there are some bright spots when the ROG Xbox Ally X really spread its wings and surprised me. Granted, a vast majority of those impressions were from less-demanding or older titles. Take good old Skyrim, for example. Outside of handheld PCs, the next best portable option would be the Nintendo Switch and that runs the game at a capped 30FPS (no Switch 2 upgrade has been announced… yet. I see you, Bethesda). However, the ROG Xbox Ally X had no problem running Skyrim Special Edition – with various major graphical mods installed – while it hovered between 55-60FPS in my testing.

On the less-demanding end, critically acclaimed new games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2 ran superbly, both comfortably hitting a smooth 60FPS with very minor, barely noticeable dips.

Subnautica and Atomfall ran near-flawlessly on the ROG Xbox Ally X, yielding stable, relatively high frame rates with no issues. I even managed to tweak Forza Horizon 5 enough to get it running modestly, of course still with some expected graphical caveats. That said, I spent less time tinkering in settings here than I did on other handhelds like the MSI Claw or Steam Deck, so that little extra power beneath the hood shines.

All this to say as a handheld PC prioritising portable gaming, the ROG Xbox Ally X is impressive for what it offers, but like most of its market competitors, some games will require the right amount of fine-tuning to fully enjoy on a performance-level. If you aren’t a stickler for getting your games running on the highest possible settings, the ROG Xbox Ally X will serve you fine as a reliably easy-to-use handheld device catering to most of your gaming needs on Steam, Game Pass, and more.

Let’s Talk Price



At $999 or R18,999 locally, the ROG Xbox Ally X asks a lot of out of buyers and might be the biggest point of contention. With that price, ASUS and Xbox make it clear who the target demographic is, and for those hoping for a lower entry wall, it does sting. I believe this could’ve been an opportunity for Xbox to make the first truly accessible handheld PC price-wise, and really made those bold swings to broaden its reach. Unfortunately, the price is the biggest hurdle here and I can only recommend it to those who don’t mind its asking price.

The ROG Xbox Ally model only costs R12,999 which does make it the more affordable option of the two. If you’re buying a ROG Xbox Ally or Ally X to be your dedicated and only means of gaming, it’s difficult to recommend over just buying a home console instead.

Final Verdict

The ROG Xbox Ally X isn’t going to revolutionise the handheld PC world, but thanks to some streamlined features, a fantastic UI/UX, and an ergonomic design that makes it one of the most comfortable portable devices to hold and play for extended hours, it certainly stands out among the pack as a worthy contender in the increasingly crowded handheld PC market.

You can purchase a ROG Xbox Ally X from the ASUS Store for R18,999